Illuminated spirit level



ILLUMINATED SPIRIT LEVEL James H. Ashwill, Compton, Calif., assignor of fifty per cent to James L. Cunningham, Norwalk, Calif.

Application January 17, 1952, Serial No. 266,847

1 Claim. (Cl. 240--6.44)

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in spirit levels and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an instrument of this character comprising means for magnetically securing the device in position on a metallic support when in use.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a spirit level of the aforementioned character which embodies means for automatically illuminating the bubble tubes when the instrument is applied to a metallic support.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a magnetic, illuminated level of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of a spirit level constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through the instrument;

Figure 3 is an elevational view, looking at the inner side of the removable access plate with the illuminating means thereon;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a view in transverse section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a bar or beam 10 of suitable plastic, which bar or beam may be of any desired dimensions. The beam 10 includes a vertical end 11 and an inclined end 12. Extending longitudinally in the beam 10 is a chamber 13. Openings 14 in the upper and end portions of the beam 10 communicate with the chamber 13. Bubble tubes 15 are mounted in the openings 14.

The beam 10 further includes a removable plate 16 which permits access to the chamber 13. The access plate 16, which is recessed into the beam 10, is secured in position by countersunk screws 17. Finger notches or recesses 18 are provided in the access plate 16.

Metallic brackets 19 and 20 are mounted on the inner face of the access plate 16. The bracket 19 includes an upturned inner end portion 21 which is apertured to threadedly receive an electric lamp 22. At its outer end, the bracket 19 terminates in a tapered downwardly curved contact finger 23.

A dry cell battery 24 is mounted on the bracket 20 with its positive pole in engagement with the positive contact United States Patent 0 of the lamp 22. The bracket 20 terminates in an upturned inner end portion 25 constituting a stop for the battery 24. Struck upwardly from the outer portion of the bracket 20 is a resilient finger or contact 26 which is engaged with the negative pole of the battery 24 and which, in conjunction with the element 25, secures said battery in position on said bracket. The bracket 20 terminates in a tapered, downwardly curved contact 27.

Recessed into the end portions of the bottom or base 28 of the beam 10 is a pair of permanent magnets 29. In the embodiment shown, the magnets 29 include upstanding lugs 30 which are engaged by the contacts 23 and 27 for electrically connecting the lamp 22 and the battery 24 to said magnets. Openings 31 in the base or bottom portion 28 of the beam 10 accommodate the lugs 30.

It is thought that the manner in which the device is used will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when the instrument is applied to a metallic object or member it is firmly secured in any desired position thereon by the magnets 29. When the instrument is thus applied to a metallic support an electric circuit is completed through the battery 24, the lamp 22, the elements 19 and 23, said support, and the elements 27 and 26, thus energizing said lamp for illuminating the bubble tubes 15. As best seen in Figure 5 of the drawing, the permanent side wall of the beam 10 has formed therein finger recesses or windows 32.

It is believed that the many advantages of a spirit level constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the instrument is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A spirit level comprising, in combination, a beam having a chamber therein and further having openings in its end portions communicating with the chamber, permanent magnets on the beam engageable with a metallic support for mounting said beam thereon, lugs on the magnets engaged in the openings, bubble tubes on the beam, an access plate for the chamber removably mounted on the beam, elongated brackets on the access plate, an electric lamp on one of the brackets electrically connected thereto, a battery on the other bracket electrically connected thereto and electrically connected with the lamp, a resilient finger struck from one end portion of said other bracket and engaged with the negative pole of the battery for electrically connecting same to said other bracket and for biasing the positive terminal of said battery into contact with one terminal of the lamp, .1 stop member on the other end of said other bracket engageable with the battery and cooperable with said finger for removably securing the battery in position on said other bracket, and resilient contacts on the brackets engaged with the lugs when the access plate is mounted in position on the beam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,617,937 Boucher et a1. Feb. 15, 1927 2,109,976 Pierce Mar. 1, 1938 2,198,945 Morris Apr. 30, 1940 2,234,982 Ross Mar. 18, 1941 2,481,736 Foerster Sept. 13, 1949 2,526,206 Dolan Oct. 17, 1950 

